Beach Baby (pattern is WIP!)

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Cotton 8 ply
Hook: 4mm
(Please note American terms used in this pattern)


Bottom Strip

Foundation: ch 69, turn
Row 1: sk 1st ch, sc to end of row, ch 1, turn (68 st)
Rows 2 and 3: rep row 1 (68 st)
Row 4: sk 1st ch, sc 3, ch 2, sk 2 sc (buttonhole 1), sc 3, ch 2, sk 2sc (buttonhole 2), sc to end of row, ch 1, turn (68 st)
Row 5: sk 1st ch, sc back along row, when you reach the buttonholes make 2sc into the gaps created by the 2ch ch1, turn (68st)
Rows 6-8: rep row 1 (68 st)
Row 9: Rep row 4 (another buttonhole row)
Row 10: Rep row 5. Break yarn and fasten off.

Front section / armhole shaping

Reattach yarn at the 24th stitch from the end (doesn't matter which end)

Row 1: ch 1, sc in next st and following 20 st ch 1, turn (22 st)
Row 2: skip ch and 1st sc, sc across ending with sl st in first st of prev row (created by ch 1 at the beginning of that row). Ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 - 8: rep row 2 (15 st at end of row 8). Final row should finish on RH side of front (that is, the baby's RH side when the dress is being worn)

Right front strap

Leave yarn attached to front section

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in 1st 3 st, ch 1, turn
Row 2: Sc across, ch 1, turn (3 st)
Rows 3 - 51 (or until strap reaches desired length. I made mine 27 cm) Rep row 2. Make sure your final row finishes on inside edge of strap.

Outside / armhole edging: (leave yarn attached) Ch 1, sl st across top of strap, ch 1, sl st down outside edge of strap, being sure to work 1 sl st per strap row, sl st around armhole shaping. Fasten off at end of shaping.

Left front strap

Attach yarn to opposite edge of front

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in 1st 3 st, ch 1, turn
Row 2: Sc across, ch 1, turn (3 st)
Rows 3 - 51 (or until strap reaches desired length. I made mine 27 cm) Rep row 2. Make sure your final row finishes on outside edge of strap.

Inside strap edging, front scallops

Leave yarn attached. Ch 1, sl st across top of strap. Sl st down inside of left strap, being sure to work 1 sl st per strap row.

At the bottom of the strap, make sl st in 1st sc of front top, work *(sc, tr, sc), sl st* 4 times across front. Sl st up inside of RH front strap, being sure to work 1 sl st in edge of each strap row. Fasten off.